Pattinson is known for having one of the worst cases of "white line fever" in the Australian team.

His berserker quality was evident on Test debut back in late 2011.

He cut loose against an unsuspecting New Zealand at the Gabba to at one stage claim three wickets in four balls on his way to figures of 5-27 - still a Test career-best.

It has been 21 months since his last baggy green sighting in a stirring series-clinching third Test victory against South Africa at Cape Town that ended Proteas captain Graeme Smith's career in frustration.

Since then, Pattinson has suffered a recurrence of back stress fractures and a hamstring injury.

It ensured he had to remodel the action that had claimed 51 wickets at 27.07 in his 13 Tests to date.

Smith is confident Pattinson is ready to again lead the Australian attack.

"He has played enough. He deserves an opportunity," he said.

"I think he just needs to go out there and do what he does well - that's bowl fast, swing the ball and get it up there, get it moving.

"I think he is pretty similar in the way Joshy Hazlewood bowls.

"Hopefully those two can lead our attack really well."

Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh had hinted that Hazlewood would be given a break this summer.

And the Hobart clash appeared the most likely considering the short turnaround between the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests.

But Hazlewood received the nod for the three-Test series opener at Bellerive, relegating WA bolter Nathan Coulter-Nile to 12th man duties.

Smith said the batting order would remain the same despite speculation that wicketkeeper Peter Nevill would replace allrounder Mitch Marsh at No.6.

Australia are overwhelming favourites to thrash a Windies side that has not won an overseas Test series of note in 20 years.